Updated 10 November 2026
Many Kenyans settled in the UK want to bring an elderly parent to live with them. The route for this is the adult dependent relative visa, a family visa for someone who needs long-term personal care from a close relative in the UK. It is not a route for a parent who simply wants to live with their children. The tests focus on care needs and on whether that care is available in Kenya. This guide sets out the rules from GOV.UK.
Source: GOV.UK Family visas guidance (last updated 23 October 2026), including the adult dependent relative and evidence sections, read on 8 November 2026. This is general information, not immigration advice.
On this page
Adult dependent relative visa: key facts
| Item | GOV.UK rule |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | An adult (18+) needing long-term care from a parent, grandchild, brother, sister, son or daughter in the UK |
| Where to apply | Outside the UK only (except extensions) |
| Fee (outside UK) | £3,635 (£452 if the UK relative has temporary protection status) |
| Form | Online application plus Appendix 1 |
| Decision | Usually within 12 weeks from outside the UK |
| Stay | Unlimited if the relative is British, Irish or settled |
| English test | Not required for this route |
Who can sponsor an adult dependent relative visa
The relative you are joining must live permanently in the UK and be your parent, grandchild, brother, sister, son or daughter. They must also be one of the following:
- a British or Irish citizen;
- settled in the UK, for example with indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence;
- an EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or Liechtenstein national with pre-settled status who started living in the UK before 1 January 2021;
- a person with protection status in the UK.
A child who is in the UK on a work or student visa cannot sponsor a parent on this route.
What you must prove
- Care need: because of illness, disability or age, you need long-term care to do everyday personal and household tasks.
- Age: you are 18 or over.
- Care not available: the care you need is not available, or not affordable, in the country where you live.
- Accommodation and care in the UK: your relative can house and care for you for the whole of their permission to stay, or for 5 years if they are British or settled.
- Money: your relative can support you without relying on public funds. The caseworker looks at their income, housing costs and any care costs.
For Kenyan families, the third test is usually the hardest to meet. The question is whether the required care can be obtained, and paid for, in Kenya, for example through a carer, a care home or nursing services. Strong applications include medical reports that set out exactly which daily tasks the parent cannot do, together with evidence of what local care would involve and why it is not available or affordable.
How much an adult dependent relative visa costs
- £3,635 if applying from outside the UK and the UK relative does not have temporary protection status;
- £452 from outside the UK where the relative has temporary protection status;
- £1,407 for applications from inside the UK (extensions).
Add the TB test (Kenya is on GOV.UK’s TB test list), medical reports and certified translations. GOV.UK says the super priority service is not available on this route. It also advises warning your bank about a large payment.
Evidence for an adult dependent relative visa
- passport, plus copies of photo pages and stamps from previous passports;
- details of previous immigration applications and any criminal convictions;
- your parents’ dates of birth and nationality (applicants outside the UK);
- TB test results and certified translations;
- Appendix 1 and any sponsorship form from your UK relative;
- proof of the relative’s finances, such as 6 months of payslips, bank statements and an employer’s letter on headed paper confirming the job, contract type, salary and how long it has been paid;
- medical evidence of your care needs and evidence about care availability in Kenya.
GOV.UK points sponsors to its “Appendix FM and adult dependent relatives: maintenance and accommodation” guidance for the detailed money and housing evidence.
How long you can stay
If your relative is British, Irish or settled, your stay is unlimited and you do not need to extend or apply to settle. If they have pre-settled status or protection status, your stay runs with theirs, and you extend or settle when they do.
Steps to apply from Kenya
- Confirm that the UK relative is an eligible relation with qualifying status.
- Get detailed medical reports on the daily tasks the applicant needs help with.
- Gather evidence on care options in Kenya and their cost.
- Collect the sponsor’s income, housing and care-plan evidence.
- Take the TB test and arrange certified translations.
- Apply online with Appendix 1, pay £3,635, give biometrics, and expect a decision in about 12 weeks.
Alternatives if the tests are not met
A parent who does not need long-term care may still visit, using the UK Standard Visitor visa for stays of up to 6 months. A partner joining a British or settled spouse uses the UK spouse visa instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my mother from Kenya to live with me in the UK?
Only if she needs long-term personal care that is not available or affordable in Kenya, and you are British, Irish, settled or otherwise eligible and can support her.
How much is the adult dependent relative visa fee?
£3,635 from outside the UK in most cases.
Does my parent need an English test?
No. GOV.UK exempts adults coming to be cared for by a relative.
How long does a decision take?
Usually within 12 weeks from outside the UK.
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